Chapter 17. My Mother-in-Law Will Always Be My Mother-in-Law
Shen Caixia’s mood instantly lifted.
Became noticeably gentler.
Li Mo felt a headache coming on.
Though he and Su Qingyan weren’t officially together yet,
It was practically a done deal.
“She’s around my age, a good person, and accepts me for who I am.”
Li Mo gave a vague answer.
Right now, admitting outright
That he and Su Qingyan were together
Still felt a little daunting.
His parents were quite traditional.
“If she accepts you as you are…”
“That’s the best I could hope for. It puts my mind at ease.”
“Su Xiaoxiao only looked down on you because she became too successful.”
“Even back when you got married, I could tell that girl had a proud streak.”
“Once her career took off, sure enough, she lost respect for you.”
“Honestly, when a man chooses a wife, he should find someone who truly fits him.”
“Women who are too proud often leave in the end.”
“Someone who doesn’t despise your ordinariness…”
“That’s what matters most.”
Li Mo stayed silent for a moment.
Shen Caixia continued, “Bring her home for us to meet during New Year’s.”
“Even if she’s divorced, it’s fine.”
“Your father and I are getting older, and we worry about you.”
“We just don’t want you to end up unhappy.”
“No matter what, as long as you’re doing well…”
“And have a stable home, we’ll feel at ease.”
Li Mo felt a little helpless.
“No, Mom… She’s never been married before.”
He understood his mother’s concerns.
Conventional logic suggested that finding a good partner would be difficult.
Marrying someone else who had been divorced wouldn’t be unusual.
“That’s even better! You must bring her home for New Year’s.”
“The relatives have all heard about it by now.”
“If you bring your girlfriend back, they’ll stop worrying.”
“Do you plan on getting married?”
Listening to his mother’s nagging,
A quiet warmth in his heart.
In this world, marital bonds weren’t always strong,
But parents truly cared for their children.
“Let’s hold off on marriage for now.”
“But don’t worry, Mom. I’ll definitely bring her home for you to meet during New Year’s.”
Su Qingyan was willing to give up everything for him.
If he still hesitated now,
He wouldn’t be much of a man.
After chatting with his mother for a long time,
Li Mo finally relaxed.
The moment he hung up,
Another call came in.
This time, it was his mother-in-law, Liu Pingping.
Unlike Li Mo’s plain and simple mother, Liu Pingping, though 45, took great care of her appearance—regular workouts, meticulous makeup, and fashionable outfits.
She looked like a glamorous socialite in her thirties.
“Xiao Li, you and my daughter are divorced now.”
“Just call me Auntie from now on.”
Li Mo wasn’t offended.
“I’d rather keep calling you Mom.”
“After so many years, it’d feel strange not to.”
He had no intention of replacing his mother-in-law.
So the title “Mom” for Liu Pingping wasn’t going anywhere.
Liu Pingping had always looked down on Li Mo.
Now that he was divorced, she saw no reason to be polite.
“Even though you’re divorced, we were family for many years.”
“Let me give you some advice.”
“Men your age need to be practical.”
“Find a woman quickly, settle down, and live a stable life.”
“Otherwise, you’ll end up miserable. And don’t fuss over whether she’s divorced or not.”
Li Mo sighed inwardly.
It seemed all elders assumed that after a divorce,
The only option was to marry another divorcee.
“Don’t be picky about women.”
“Finding another wife like Xiaoxiao is unrealistic.”
“Her company is about to go public.”
“She could easily marry a billionaire’s son in the future.”
“Don’t let her success raise your standards too high. As long as she’s decent and dependable, that’s enough.”
“I’m saying all this for your own good.”
“Don’t think I’m being nosy.”
Though Liu Pingping didn’t respect Li Mo,
She wasn’t outright cruel either.
“I understand, Mom. Thank you.”
Li Mo replied softly.
If he married Su Qingyan in the future,
Liu Pingping would still be his mother-in-law.
So he had to stay respectful.
Liu Pingping was slightly surprised.
Most young men, after being talked down to ,
Would either hang up indignantly,
Vow to prove her wrong by finding a beautiful wife,
Or lash out in anger.
But Li Mo’s reaction…
Was completely unlike what she expected.
“Of course not. Everything you said is grounded in reality, and you mean well.”
His response left Liu Pingping at a loss for words.
Her son-in-law to be so composed.
“I’m glad you still consider me your mother.”
“By the way, is Qingyan still staying with you?”
“Xiaoxiao told me she’s refusing to leave.”
Su Xiaoxiao had been extremely busy lately,
Dealing with a major investment hurdle.
Too preoccupied to handle her sister’s situation,
She had delegated the matter to her mother—
“Even though you watched Qingyan grow up…”
“She’s a grown woman now.”
“When you were still married to her sister,”
“It wasn’t an issue for her to live with you.”
“But now, given the circumstances, you need to maintain boundaries.”
“Talk to Qingyan. That girl is stubborn.”
“You need to make her move out.”
“Mom, you know how headstrong Qingyan is. My words won’t change anything.”
“Besides, I’ve already sold the apartment.”
“I’ll be moving out soon. You can call her yourself.”
He maintained his respect for Liu Pingping.
Since he didn’t plan on changing mothers-in-law,
It was best to leave a good impression.
“Fine, I’ll call her later.”
“Just think carefully about what I said.”
“Don’t end up alone and miserable.”
An exhausted Li Mo finally drifted off to sleep.
He rubbed his temples, feeling another headache coming on.
Would always be his mother-in-law.
The moment Li Mo woke up,
He smelled something burning.
He had just sold this apartment and planned to move out today.
A fire would mean huge losses.
Pushing open his bedroom door…
He saw what looked like a kitchen disaster.
Thick smoke billowed out,
Making him cough uncontrollably.
From inside the kitchen,
Su Qingyan’s coughing fit echoed.
“What’s going on?! Qingyan!”
His mind raced with worst-case scenarios.
Was she so conflicted about facing her sister and mother that she’d try to harm herself?
“Just five more minutes!”
“I’m almost done making you breakfast!”